On the day of a round, I often make the joke: "You know, today could be the day I get a hole-in-one!" Yesterday was that day for me and the ironic part is that I didn't even make that joke.
Every Tuesday, I play in a casual league with my work buddies. We're more focused on enjoying ourselves than our scores, but we still have a little friendly competition. I was in the first group out of four - Our job was to set the pace so we could finish before the sun went down and get in while the clubhouse kitchen was still open.
I double bogeyed the first 2 holes, but I'm an 18 handicap so that's not all that surprising. On hole 3, one of the guys shot the pin at 153 (scorecard said 160) and I cracked a joke about "better play it 153 and not 154, that changes things" - A jab at my own skill level since I would hit the same club regardless and don't have much distance control at that. I took aim almost at the pin, but mainly just trying to give myself the most room to miss and still be in a good spot. Before stepping up, I thought "Get your hands deep so you can turn through and make that draw swing." I don't have much ability to intentionally shape the ball, but I knew I had the best chance of making clean contact if I remembered those swing cues. I put a clean, relaxed swing on it and the ProV1 took off just a hair to the right of the pin, worked a bit left and then plunked down what looked like a yard left of the pin. As the ball started to roll back right toward the hole I started to hope that it really was as good as it looked. Then it disappeared.
We ran to the carts and floored them up to the green while grabbing our phones to record the moment in case it had actually gone in. As we approached the green I jumped out as we skidded to a stop, threw my phone to my partner, and told him to start filming. I started talking through the shot to the camera as I jogged up to the hole. My excitement grew as I realized I couldn't see my ball anywhere on or around the green, but I still couldn't believe it.
Once I saw the ball in the hole it was pandemonium - Our celebration could be heard from 2 holes away as the neighboring groups called over to congratulate me. I sent the video to my other golfing friends and family, but especially to my dad and grandpa since they shared their love of the game with me.
Of course, I bought my group a round of shots from the beverage cart before we finished up the round. That ProV1 was retired forever and I was already thinking about the bar tab I was going to put up with my whole league following me into the clubhouse. My league mates flowed into the clubhouse and I opened up the tab and started ordering beers - Thankfully, I was sure to win a skin on that hole so that would help cover the tab.
I posted the video on Instagram and it's been amazing to have friends, regardless of how long it's been or if we've even ever played a round together, celebrate such a special moment. There's a beautiful connection between everyone who plays golf, and I've seen the best of it in the past 24 hours. Getting a hole-in-one is something that all golfers dream about and fantasize that someday it just might happen to them. Yesterday was that day for me, and I'll never forget it.